Rumors are swirling that this former bodega, located on a really high profile corner in a neighborhood that will be EVEN MORE DIFFERENT A YEAR FROM NOW, may become a bank branch. I do not know how valid these rumors are.

New to the site but wanted to mention something about this corner store - I've been about four times - two times I've had conversations with the nice, very polite man behind the counter about what he has casually been referring to as some kind of imminently catastrophic event, that he alleges will take place on April 4th of this year. He theorizes that it's got something to do with "the Jews," whom he claims run the world, and are unfurling some plan that eventuates in the collapse of the US dollar, and as such the global economy as it exists today, civilization, etc... I've had similar conversations with a billion other people in the city so I'm not exactly foreign to the experience of waxing conspiratorial with my fellow man (playfully or otherwise), but I'm concerned nonetheless. Anyone else experiencing these talks or do I just preternaturally invite this kind of stuff?

I guess some people seem friendlier than others and invite conversation. All kinds of conversation.

My favorite conspiracies are the ones that come up unexpectedly from really kind, genuine neighborhood people that you already chat with. It starts off like "why yes, this weather sure is great", and "oh sorry, go ahead and pet him, my dog is really friendly", and "oh, that's good that the deli is open so late" and then you're like "man, I guess I didn't know that about the Jews".

That being said, there's still enough time to transfer some of your money into foreign currency before April 4th, you know, just in case.

That's interesting to know. I'm Jewish, I think I'll go in and chat with him until he starts telling me the conspiracy, at which point I'll look surprised asking "how did you find out about our plan?! It's true, we're finalizing the last details, and moving all our money to a secure account which will be the only one that is safe. If you want, I can hold your money for you until April 5th."

While messing with the guy sounds funny, I think that the boring, but ultimately the kindest thing to do would be to tell the guy not to worry. If he's stuck working in the store all day and doesn't get out much to interact with people besides "hi, here's your change" he may well have convinced himself that the conspiracy is true and when April 3rd comes around, he will be very anxious for no reason.

Do the right thing. If you want to have some fun, make a bet with the guy that the conspiracy is not true. When April 5th rolls around, you'll have a laugh with him and get a free soda or something.

grwd, i was joking of course. Your idea is the rational fun one. I more or less just feel sorry for the paranoid conspiracy theorists. Especially when the day comes and goes and they have to (maybe) actually question their beliefs.

That's a good tactic. I've been generally cordial with the guy because he's nice, and he claims that he drinks a Coors tall boy every single night before going to bed. In some strange way it's probably better that he's so open about his conspiracy theories, otherwise who knows what kinds of heinous thoughts he could be harboring behind that friendly smile.

As far as how well-stocked the place is, it's looking better every couple of weeks. They asked me what beers I liked to drink and I told them cheap ones, but I'm sure they'll have the usual selection of Magic Hats/Stones et al - haven't checked the back fridges lately.

Just bought a bottle of water here (come in from time to time though the shelves are still not fully stocked) and the owner casually used the n-word in conversation. I won't be back. I miss Ray (the owner of the previous establishment).

My favorite conspiracies are the ones that come up unexpectedly from really kind, genuine neighborhood people that you already chat with. It starts off like "why yes, this weather sure is great", and "oh sorry, go ahead and pet him, my dog is really friendly", and "oh, that's good that the deli is open so late" and then you're like "man, I guess I didn't know that about the Jews".

Ha.

I work at 7 WTC. Which 9/11 Truthers have long had a serious boner about for whatever idiotic reasons. Whenever the "where do you work?" question comes up, I'm happy when people just say, "cool" or "ok" or whatever else. Because whenever the response is "oh, really..." or "interesting..." I know I've encountered another one of those morons and that it's time for me to begin shutting down the conversation so I can get away from them.

It looked modern, but they lacked basic staples and didn't really have anything special that would make me want to go in. I'd stop there on occasion for beer when I was picking up from Silver Rice because it was the only place on the way.

Quizno's would never generate the kind of sales needed to pay the rent and bills. At $7000/mo rent you would need to gross about $6000/wk to pay for supplies, rent, bills and take home a little in salary. I have a friend who used to own a Blimpie and his best days he did about $500 and that came out to about 100 sandwiches a day. And that's only $3500/wk.

There is still a Blimpie near my work. It is very small and a footlong sandwich is about $12, with many fewer toppings offered than Subway. Not sure how it pays any bills.. it's almost empty even at lunchtime..

The fact is that Quiznos is franchised and by the time they take their cut there's not a whole lot left for the franchisee. And since all stores have to look the same the furnishings have to come from Quiznos and they're not cheap. A sandwich shop like that wouldn't last long at all. I know of two Quiznos stores that have closed and ever since they dumped the talking kid in their advertising nothing much has been seen from them.